E-Rate 2025

First, gather your district or school’s student enrollment data and determine your school’s urban or rural classification to calculate your National School Lunch Program percentage. This percentage can be used to determine your E-Rate discount rate. 

After completing your preliminary research, it is time to file two separate forms with the USAC. The first form, Form 470, officially begins the E-Rate process by notifying interested vendors and service providers that you are applying for E-Rate funding. The filing window for FY25 has yet to be announced but will be posted to the USAC E-Rate Productivity Center when available. This portal is also where you can submit both Forms 470 and 471.

The second form, Form 471, is a formal request for discounts on eligible services and equipment for the upcoming E-Rate season. Please note that Form 471 cannot be submitted until at least 28 days after the certification of Form 470, allowing vendors time to bid on your E-Rate-related projects. Form 471 will also specify your chosen bidder and associated requested costs. 

During the Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) process, your E-Rate application forms and procedures are reviewed for compliance. Throughout this process, you will likely receive a series of questions that require prompt responses. At the conclusion of the PIA process, a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) will be sent to all parties, detailing the funding status and amount. Please note that you have 15 days to respond to any questions raised during the PIA process. This deadline is strict, so keep that in mind during the filing and certification of Form 471 and watch for any PIA communications. 

Once the PIA compliance check has been completed and certified, you will need to file Form 486. This form formally initiatives the projects that have been approved and certified, effectively turning on the funding pipeline. After submission, a notification letter will be sent to all parties involved, allowing you to start the project or service. 

There are two distinct methods to invoice for projects and services rendered through the E-Rate program, each requiring different forms to complete the payment process.

Method One: Use Form 472, Billed Entity Application Reimbursement (BEAR), to pay the vendor in full and request reimbursement directly from USAC.

Method Two: Use Form 474, Service Provider Invoice (SPI), to have the vendor invoice both the school and USAC directly for their respective portions of the projects and services rendered. 

That’s all there is to it! Five simple steps, and an upgraded infrastructure for your institution and your classrooms. Of course, we’re always here to help — please feel free to reach out to our State and Local Education teams if you have any further questions; we’d be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.